Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Duecalindapu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Duecalindapu’, characterized by its compact, semi-upright and outwardly spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large velvety dark purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUECALINDAPU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Duecalindapu’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new compact Calibrachoa plants with largeand uniquely attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in June, 2012 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A10-3323-002, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofCalibrachoa sp. identified as code number A11-1859-003, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this newCalibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duecalindapu’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Duecalindapu’ as a new and distinctCalibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact, semi-upright and outwardly spreading to trailing and        decumbent plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large velvety dark purple-colored flowers.    -   5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe female parent selection in flower color as plants of the femaleparent selection have darker purple-colored flowers. In addition, plantsof the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than plants of thefemale parent selection.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in plant size as plants of the new Calibrachoaare more compact than plants of the male parent selection. In addition,plants of the new Calibrachoa have smaller flowers than plants of themale parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants ofCalibrachoa sp. ‘Duealmidpu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,717.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differedprimarily from plants of ‘Duealmidpu’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more compact than plants        of ‘Duealmidpu’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Duealmidpu’ differed in        flower color as plants of ‘Duealmidpu’ had lighter        purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘Duecalindapu’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 10.5-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched onetime three weeks after planting and were 13 weeks old when thephotograph and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duecalindapu’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A10-3323-002, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A11-1859-003, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, semi-upright and outwardly            spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely            branching habit with about nine primary lateral branches            developing per plant; pinching enhances branching; dense and            full appearance; vigorous growth habit; moderate growth            rate.        -   Plant height.—About 18.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 63 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 30 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing            and decumbent.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 144C and 195B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, and after            flowering, opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 11.4 mm.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,            close to 143C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 139C; venation, close to 143D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5.2 mm. Diameter: About 1.7 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            surface: Close to 144C. Color, lower surface: Close to 144D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually            about 320 flowers developing per plant; flowers face upright            or outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of            the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about four            to five weeks after planting; plants flower continuously            from the spring throughout the summer in Germany.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 2.9 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 9.4 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 2 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 4.4 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to            10B and 83A.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 1.7 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.7 cm. Petal shape:            Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:            Entire. Petal texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Petal texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous.            Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close            to 83A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 80B.            Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 81A; towards            the base and venation, close to 79A; main color becoming            closer to 81B with development. Petal, fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 79D; venation, close to 78B. Throat: Close            to 7A; venation, close to 79B. Tube: Close to 154C;            venation, close to 187C.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;            sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.1 cm. Sepal            width: About 2.8 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:            Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Pubescent. Sepal luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 137B. Color, lower            surface: Close to 137C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 mm.            Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Six per flower.            Filament length: About 4.8 mm. Filament color: Close to            145D. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length: About            1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 8A. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 6B. Pistils: Quantity: One per            flower. Pistil length: About 7.4 mm. Style length: About            5.4 mm. Style color: Close to 145D. Stigma shape:            Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 144C. Ovary color: Close            to 145B. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Calibrachoa plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named‘Duecalindapu’ as illustrated and described.